Profile Evaluation for Round 2 [Fall 2025 MBA]

Question

Hi,
I completed my B.Tech (Electronics & Communication) from an IIT in 2020, and immediately joined as an Associate Product Manager at MakeMyTrip, a leading Travel company in India. Was promoted to Product Manager in 1.5 years, and then switched to another travel-based Product Manager role at Paytm, a leading Financial company in India. In between these roles, I also worked at a revenue-based financing company as a Growth Product Manager for 7 months.
I plan to pursue full-time MBA (1 year / 2 years) in fall 2025, so I'm preparing my profile for the same. I plan to give GMAT Focus Edition in Sep '24, and will be applying to B-schools in Round 2.

Grades: 
Class 10: 10 CGPA (95%)
Class 12: 96.4%
B.Tech: 6.75 CPI (translates to 67.5% or 2.7 GPA) from IIT Guwahati

Work Experience 
Pre-MBA industry: Tech (Product)
Total Work Experience: 3.5 months (as of July '24)

Post-MBA industry: Tech (Product leadership) / Consulting / Entrepreneurship

Others 
Was awarded Employee of the Month at MakeMyTrip
Was the Overall Coordinator of the annual cultural fest at IIT Guwahati

Need a few inputs based on my profile above:
1) how much will my low GPA in B.Tech affect my chances at top B-schools in US & EU? any suggestions to tackle this in the rest of my profile?
2) what GMAT Focus Edition score should I target? (my target score was 685)
3) which US or EU B-schools can I target for full-time MBA programmes in fall '25?
4) tips to improve my profile for better chances in Round 2

dee1pug1 · Answer

- Indian male engineer with a weak GPA will need a very high GMAT; aim for 99th percentile (705+)
- R2 in the past few years has been a carnage for Indian males; figure out what you can showcase to stand out; the IIT tag can only do so much; rest will all depend on how you position and package your candidature and how sensible you are in your school selection
- Profiles are improved over years; you could consider pursuing HBS Core and MBA Math course

MBAGuide · Answer

ayush11shivali Need a few inputs based on my profile above: 1) how much will my low GPA in B.Tech affect my chances at top B-schools in US & EU? any suggestions to tackle this in the rest of my profile? If you are going for the absolute top tier, your GPA will have an impact. There is a lot of representation from within your pool, and anything above 3.4 is considered ideal (and converting is not necessary because the adcoms have a good enough idea about the Indian GPAs). But you can use your GMAT FE score to balance the GPA. I also want to add that in the US, the average age for Indian students also tends to be higher than average of the class. More experience is preferred atleast among the M7 schools. 2) what GMAT Focus Edition score should I target? (my target score was 685) Best to aim for a high target score. Again, if targeting T10, 705+ is ideal. 3) which US or EU B-schools can I target for full-time MBA programmes in fall '25? You can look at US T15 schools, and in the EU and UK, you can consider HEC, IESE, Oxford, Cambridge, and LBS. 4) tips to improve my profile for better chances in Round 2 Your profile is decent, and your undergrad pedigree is good. I feel that if you can pull up your score a bit, you can definitely take your chance with some ultra-competitive schools. Happy to advise further Best wishes Best wishes Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alumna, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer) Founder, MBAGuideConsulting LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/aanchal-sahni-83b00819/ |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

admitStreet · Answer

@ayush11shivali - The IIT tag and PM exposure in hyper-growth companies are good angles. Would like to understand the motivation behind your job-switches and for an MBA: having a strong narrative is crucial, don't underestimate it. As your GPA is low, a strong GMAT (ideally a 715+ GFE) can help compensate. Some schools (e.g. LBS and some M7's) are typically known to overindex the GPA angle in the competitive Indian pool, but there are always exceptions as long as the rest of the profile can strongly compensate. The low GPA would also have to be addressed through additional/ optional essay, in my view. Which schools you should target will depend on your (actual) GMAT score, post-MBA goals, and other key factors such as these . One key angle you should consider is the % of alum in your target roles. Top MBA programs for consulting and tech (PM) careers along with their latest available hiring stats are here and here FYI. The exact school mix would require deeper discussions, and suggesting schools at this point would be premature. Hope this helps a bit. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to have a deeper chat. Regards, Arvind Founder, admitStreet | Request a free chat W: https://admitstreet.com | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com | LinkedIn

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hey,  ayush11shivali

Answering your questions

1) How much will my low GPA in B.Tech affect my chances at top B-schools in US & EU? any suggestions to tackle this in the rest of my profile?

Your low GPA i may affect your chances at top B-schools in the US and EU

2) what GMAT Focus Edition score should I target? (my target score was 685) You should target a GMAT Focus Edition score of at least 700 to counterbalance your lower GPA and strengthen your application.

3) Which US or EU B-schools can I target for full-time MBA programmes in fall '25?

For US B-schools, you can target programs like Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT Sloan, and Chicago Booth as reach schools; Kellogg, Haas, Tuck, Ross, and Duke Fuqua as target schools; and Georgetown McDonough, Vanderbilt Owen, and University of Texas McCombs as safer options. For EU B-schools, consider INSEAD, London Business School (LBS), and IMD as reach schools; IESE, HEC Paris, Oxford Said, and Cambridge Judge as target schools; and ESADE, Rotterdam School of Management, and ESMT Berlin as safer options.

4) tips to improve my profile for better chances in Round 2 answer this sentence

To improve your profile for better chances in Round 2, focus on enhancing your leadership experience at work and in extracurricular activities. Clearly outline your career progression and skills in your application. Continue or take on new leadership roles outside of work. Network with alumni and attend school events to learn about each school's culture. Write strong application essays that highlight your achievements and personal growth. Finally, prepare well for interviews by practicing common questions and showcasing your skills and experiences.

If you have any further questions related to your profile or want to have a 1:1 discussion with our top profile experts,  feel free to schedule a complimentary profile evaluations session with our experts  . We match you with the students and alums of top B-schools according to your background and target schools.

TheRedPen · Answer

ayush11shivali ,

You have strong brand names in your profile to play around with. They will significantly weigh your applications in your favor. However, your CGPA is certainly on the lower side which might affect your chances at leading business schools. However, we can focus on other aspects of your profile and balance out the differences.

About your GMAT FE scores range, we recommend discussing it with you in detail over a call as that will give us a holistic understanding of your profile and goals. Further, we can also help you shortlist the best-fit schools in your case.

You can  schedule a complimentary call  with our experts or connect directly via call at +91 7780769732

GeneralEducation · Answer

Hi  ayush11shivali ,

Your undergrad GPA is below average for top MBA programs, which typically prefer GPAs above 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). However, admissions committees consider various factors overall. To overcome the impact of your GPA, highlight your strong performance in other areas such as work experience, GMAT score, and achievements.

Aiming for a GMAT score of around 685 is reasonable. However, the specific score you should target depends on the average GMAT scores of the schools you are interested in. Research the average GMAT scores of your target schools and aim to score at least within the range of their 80th percentile to be competitive.

Given your background and interest in tech product management, consider targeting top MBA programs known for strong tech and entrepreneurship tracks. schools like Stanford, MIT Sloan, Berkeley Haas, Kellogg, INSEAD, London Business School, IESE, and Columbia are well-regarded for tech and known for their strong MBA programs with international reputations.

Ways to improve your profile: 
 
 Consider getting involved in extracurricular activities or community service that align with your interests and showcase leadership and teamwork.  
 Start building relationships with potential recommenders who can speak to your strengths and contributions. 
 Craft compelling essays that explain your career goals, why you need an MBA, and how you will contribute to the school’s community.  
By focusing on these areas, you can strengthen your profile and improve your chances of admission to top MBA programs despite the lower GPA.

Now you can also try our B-school selector  tool to know your right fit school for the above profile.

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